Retiring in Greenville, SC

Greenville is a rapidly growing destination for people entering their retirement, offering entertainment, hospitality services and quality of life perks rivaling many much larger cities at lower prices than are typically found in bigger towns. Read on to learn about what makes this small southeastern city such a hotspot for those reaching the end of their working careers.

Key Takeaways

• The cost of living in Greenville is 8 percent lower than the national average, and boasts numerous tax perks for retirees.
• Outdoor recreation is one of the main draws of the Greenville area, with hiking, golfing, swimming and paddling found in ample supply throughout the region.
• Greenville is home to many music venues, art galleries, and restaurants as well as a world-class craft beer scene.

Is Greenville a Good Place to Retire?

Greenville checks a lot of the most important boxes for people seeking a retirement-friendly city. A below-average cost of living, coupled with retirement-friendly tax laws, makes Greenville an affordable city for those at the end of their careers, and the city’s access to high-quality food and drink, arts and culture, and outdoor recreation opportunities is second to none.

Reasons to Retire in Greenville

While it might be smaller than some other southeastern cities, Greenville offers resources that belie its size and a variety of perks that might appeal specifically to those entering retirement and seeking to relocate.

Cost of Living

Greenville’s cost of living is nearly 10 percent below the national average, meaning your hard-earned retirement savings will go further than in many other popular retirement destinations. Lower cost of living at home means more money to splurge on travel, dining out, and leisure activities to fill a newly open schedule.

Low Property Taxes

Greenville’s property tax rate sits well below the national average of 1.02 percent. With a property tax averaging around 0.72%, Greenville handily beats out many other cities in the region, including Asheville, NC (0.82%), Charlotte, NC (1.03%), and Raleigh, NC (0.87%). 

Healthcare and Hospitals

Greenville is served by two major hospital systems—Bon Secours St. Francis Health System has hospitals downtown and on the east side of town, and Prisma Health operates a Greenville hospital with a 24-hour level 1 trauma center and numerous specialists focused on senior care for older residents.

Climate

The upstate of South Carolina is known for its pleasant weather, with four distinct seasons and typically sunny weather throughout the warmer months, making it exceptionally easy to get outside and enjoy the beautiful outdoor environment surrounding the city. 

Winters are relatively mild in Greenville, keeping energy costs low and allowing frequent respite from the coldest temperatures throughout the year. The summers are hot and humid, but significantly more temperate than destinations further south in Georgia and Florida. Many retirees from the southernmost states find the upstate a welcome relief from the oppressive heat of summer.

Sports and Leisure Activities

Access to the great outdoors is one of the biggest draws of the Greenville area. Whether it’s hiking, swimming, cycling, or golfing at one of the region’s many beautiful golf courses, there are options for everyone within a short drive of the city’s downtown core.

Sports fans can catch a Greenville Drive game without even leaving the city, or travel a bit further to see major league teams with bigger cities like Atlanta, GA, and Charlotte, NC, within a 2-hour drive.

Gated Communities

Greenville is home to a diverse selection of gated communities for all types of families and residents with a wide variety of budgets and priorities. With many of these communities offering a host of amenities on-site, retirees seeking an all-inclusive residential experience are sure to find what they’re looking for in Greenville.

Food and Beer Scene

The dining and hospitality offerings in Greenville are extensive, with fine dining, award-winning restaurants, upscale cocktail bars, cozy dives, and everything in between just a short drive from wherever you are in the city. 

Breweries like Liability Brewing Company and Fireforge Crafted Beer lead the way for the city’s burgeoning craft beer scene, capitalizing on the clean water and perfect growing conditions for hops found in the mountains of upstate South Carolina. 

Arts and Music

Greenville is home to numerous world-class music venues and art spaces. Larger venues like the Peace Center and the Bon Secours Wellness Arena are complemented by iconic smaller venues like The Radio Room, hosting some of the biggest international touring acts all the way down to up-and-coming indie acts across any genre you could imagine.

Those with a taste for the visual arts will find a host of small, independent galleries around town as well as the beautiful collections hosted by the Greenville County Museum of Art throughout the year.

Bottom Line

Greenville is rapidly becoming a sought-after destination for those approaching retirement, and the current cost of living, housing, healthcare and taxes all make it more affordable than you might think.

If you’re interested in learning more about how to prepare for retirement in one of the Southeast’s top up-and-coming cities for retirees, Horizons Wealth Management can help support your financial goals.

Retiring in Greenville, SC FAQ